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Kurnool Mayor leads from the front

Raghurami Reddy calls for a well thought out plan to utilise the government’s support

KURNOOL: Mayor S. Raghurami Reddy, whose house was among those flooded in the recent deluge, expressed his wish to live in the same house- flood or no flood. On that fateful day, Mr. Raghurami Reddy and other family members moved out soon after the water entered the house. However, his son stayed back to look after the pet saying that he could take shelter on the terrace for some time.

The flood was so ferocious at Narsingraopet that the terrace was under eight feet water later. Mr. Raghurami Reddy organised ropes and men to rescue his son and the pet.

The first citizen expressed his wish to live there only to keep the morale of people high, but advised them to be prepared to move out of old city. The residents of old city should take up no more fresh and expensive structure, but should be prepared to move towards Jagannatha Hill.

Rs. 30 crore released

According to Mr. Raghurami Reddy, the government had released Rs. 30 crore and another Rs. 30 crore was expected at the time for reconstruction of the city.

The flood bank construction project was going to fetch Rs. 240 crore. Mr. Raghurami Reddy called for a well thought out and comprehensive city plan to utilise the government support.

He said roads should be laid along the flood banks. Mr. Raghurami Reddy said the residential apartment project on the A, B and C. Camps should be speeded up wherein the residents of old city could be shifted to safer places within the city. Nearly 15,000 flats could be constructed on the land available in the three colonies by pulling down the dilapidated quarters. Also, he mooted a proposal for expansion of city limits amalgamating B. Tandrapadu, Pasupala, Rudravaram, Padidempadu, Dinnedevarapadu, Pandipadu, P. Tekur, Mamidalapadu, Panchalingala and Gondiparla.

Also, he emphasised the need for laying Nannur-Nagulapuram road and a bridge across Tungabhadra to lay the road towards Gondiparla. The infrastructure would pave the way for birth of a new city, he felt.